Self-cleaning nozzle



Jan. 18, 1955 G. L. N. MEYER SELF-CLEANING NOZZLE Filed May 4, 1955 3 6 L0 vi 3 /0 1N VEN TOR.

660, A. /V. Meyer.

United States Patent SELF-CLEANING NOZZLE George L. N. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,872

6 Claims. (Cl. 299-59) This invention relates to nozzle construction and more particularly to a nozzle for use in bottle washing machines, or. the like, that will be self cleaning.

In bottle washing machines the bottles are washed in a caustic solution, after which they must be rinsed thoroughly both inside and outside. Heretofore it has been common practice to use an elongated rinse tube which was raised in the bottle as the bottle reached the rinse station. This elongated rinse nozzle has not proven too satisfactory as the bottle is likely to become tilted in the carrier, in which event the nozzle is apt to contact the interior of the bottle and mar or scratch the glass.

In providing a short nozzle adapted to projecta stream of water vertically upward against'the inverted bottom of the bottle the problem has been one of keeping the nozzle free of obstructions which would divert the stream from its normal vertical path and thus not thoroughly rinse the caustic from the bottle. The causes ofsuch obstructions are many but may be classified into two general classes: (1) those caused by chemical action, such as lime or magnesium salts (CaOI-I, CaCOs, CaSO4, CaPO4 or similar salts of magnesium) and (2) physical impurities in the water supply such as sand or grit particles. In the usual nozzle used on bottle cleaning machines such obstructions build up around the orifice causing the water to enter the bottles at an angle and eventually cut off the water supply completely, causing a shut down of the entire machine for cleaning and repair.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle for use on bottle washing machines, or the'like, that will be self cleaning.

Another object is to provide a nozzle for bottle washing machines, or the like, that will not clog.

Another object is to provide a rinse nozzle which will not scratch the insides of the bottles being washed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nozzle for a bottle washing machine, or the like, which will rinse the interior of the bottle thoroughly.

A still further object is to provide a self cleaning rinse nozzle for a bottle washing machine which is fully automatic.

A still further object is to provide a rinse nozzle for a bottle washing machine which will automatically center the bottle being rinsed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rinse nozzle in which pressure of the water is utilized to maintain the nozzle free of obstructions.

A still further object is to provide an automatic cleaner for rinse nozzles in bottle washing machines, or the like, which will be actuated periodically by changes in water pressure.

Still further objects will become apparent upon considering the following specification, which, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse cross-section through a rinsing header and nozzle in a bottle washing machine and illustrates the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section of the header shown in Fig. 1, showing only two of a plurality of nozzles.

In bottle washing machines the bottles are carried longitudinally through the machine in individual pockets in the carrier which move through a series of soaking and rinsing tanks, after which the bottles, in inverted position, pass over rinse nozzles which rinse the interiors of the Patented Jan. 18, 1955 bottles with a spray of fresh clean water. The nozzles are mounted in a header which is in turn connected to a suppy of water under pressure and supplies the water to the nozzles. The header is mounted to reciprocate vertically as the bottles advance and after the nozzles enter the necks of the bottles the header either may be advanced with the carrier or the carrier may be stopped while the rinsing is being accomplished.

In the present invention a header 10 is made of either square or rectangular tubing and contains a plurality of spaced threaded holes in the upper surface which receive the threaded end of nozzles 12. The nozzles 12 are conical in exterior shape and have a nozzle bore 14 opening through the apex of the cone and opening into an approach bore 16 at its lower end. The approach bore 16 receives rinse water from the header 10 and delivers it to the nozzle bore 14, which, being of smaller diameter than the bore 16, increases the velocity of the water and expels it from the tip of the nozzle at high velocity so that it impinges on the inverted bottom of the bottle interior to thoroughly rinse the inside of the bottle.

The conical shape of the nozzle forms a guide for the bottle and centers the bottle over the nozzle as the header 10 raises the nozzles into rinsing position.

A gasket 17 is interposed between the base of the nozzle 12 and the top of theheader 10 to prevent leakage of water. 1 v

The header 10 has a plurality of threaded holes 18 through its lower surface which holes are in axial alinement with the nozzles 12.

Cylindrical cups 20 are screwed into the holes 18 with gaskets 22 interposed between the tops of the cups 20 and the bottom surface to prevent leaks.

Aplunger 24 has a stem 26 which projects through an aperture in the bottom of the cup 20 and is secured by a washer 25 and cotter pin 26.

A sleeve 28 surrounds the stem and limits the downward movement of the plunger 24. A compression spring 30 is mounted between the plunger 24 and the bottom of the cup 20 to actuate the plunger upwardly when water pressure in the header 10 is shut oif. Y

A packing cup 32 opens upwardly and is secured to the top of the plunger 24 to provide a water tight seal above the plunger.

A vent 33 in the lower part of the cylindrical cup 20 provides free access of air below the plunger and insures a free action for the plunger 24.

The plunger actuates a nozzle cleaner, which comprises a rod 36 secured at its lower end in the top of the plunger 24 and extending upwardly through the packing cup 32. When the plunger 24 is in its uppermost positron the rod 36 projects through the nozzle bore 14 to keep the bore 14 free of any foreign matter that might impede the passage of the rinse water or might alter the direction of the stream leaving the nozzle.

Operation In operation the bottles are carried in pockets in inverted position over the nozzles. As the bottles approach a position directly over the nozzles 12, the header 10 moves upwardly, usually by cam action, until the conical nozzle tip 12 enters the neck of the inverted bottle, the conical surface of the nozzle centering the bottle on the nozzle.

When the bottle is centered on the nozzle 12 a valve (not shown) opens to supply rinse water to the header. The pressure of the water in the header 10 is exerted on the cup 32 which acts on the plunger 24 to move the plunger downwardly against the pressure of the spring 30.

The downward movement of the plunger 24 withdraws the cleaner rod 36 from the nozzle bore 14 permitting the rinse water to flow out of the nozzle in a clear unobstructed stream.

At the conclusion of the rinsing cycle the valve (not shown) closes and the water pressure within the header 10 drops to zero permitting the spring 30 to force the plunger 24 upwardly until the cotter pin and washer contact the bottom of the cylinder cup 20.

As the plunger 24 moves upwardly it forces the cleaning rod 36, carried thereby, upward and into the nozzle bore -14, cleaning thenozzle bore and preparing it for the next cleaning operation.

After the valve shuts oif the water to the header, the cam withdraws the header andnozzles. from rinse position to the initial position.

It will be-realized that the hereinbefore described form of the invention is to be takenmerely as a preferred embodiment thereofand that various changes in size, shape and arrangement of parts maybe made-without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

That which is claimedas new and is-desn'ed to be securedrbyw United States Letters Patent is:

1. In va rinser of the character described, a header adapted to carry water under pressure, a plurality ,of nozzles mounted in spaced relation on one side of the exterior of the header, to deliver the water from the header-:to the article to'be rinsed, a cylinder mounted oppositeeachnozzlelinalinementin the opposite side of the header from thenozzle, .and a pressure responsive cleaning rod. mounted iireach ofsaid cylinders and adapted, upon apredetermined drop in water pressurein the header, to enterthernozzle to maintain the latter free of obstructions and adapted, upon the pressure in the header attaining.a predetermined high, to withdraw from-the nozzle to permitflow of water therefrom.

'2. In a rinser of the character described, a header adapted to carry water under pressure, a plural ty of nozzlestin spaced relation onone side of the exteriorof the header to deliver the water from the header to the article to be rinsed, acylinder mounted opposite each nozzle in alinement therewith in the opposite side of the header from said nozzles, a pressure responsive piston mounted in said cylinder, and a cleaning rodcarried by eachpiston and adaptedin extendedposition to enter the nozzle to clean thelatter of foreign substances, said piston being retractable by pressure of water in the header to withdraw the cleaning rod'fromthe nozzle.

'3. In a rinser of the character described, a header adapted to carry water under pressure, a plurality of nozzles in .spaced relation on one side of the exterior of the header to deliver the water from the headerv to the article to be rinsed, a cylinder mounted opposite each nozzle in alinement therewith in the-opposite side of the header from said nozzles, apressure responsive piston mounted in said cylinder, acleaning rod carried by each piston and adapted in extended position to enter the nozzle to clean the latter of foreign substances, said piston being retractable by pressureof waterin the header to withdraw the cleaning rod from the nozzle,.and means to limit the forward motion of the piston.

4.1In a rinser of the character described, a header -adapted to -carry water .under pressure, a plurality of nozzles in spaced relation on one side of the exterior of the header to deliver the water from the header to the article to be rinsed, a cylinder mounted opposite each nozzle in alinement therewith in the opposite side of the header from said nozzles, a pressure responsive piston mounted in said cylinder, a cleaning rod carried by each piston and adapted in extended position to enter the nozzle to clean the latter,..of.foreign.substances, said piston being retractable by pressure of water in the header to withdraw the c-leaning rod fromthe nozzle, and means to limit the movement of-the pistonin both directions.

5. In a rinser of the character described, a header adapted to carry awater'under pressure, a plurality of nozzles mounted in spaced relation on one side of the exterior of the header, to deliver the water from the header to the article to be rinsed, a cylinder mounted opposite each nozzle in alinement in the opposite side of the header from the nozzle, a pressnre'responsive cleaning rod mounted in each of said cylinders and adapted, upon a predetermineddrop in water pressure in the header, to enter the nozzle to maintain the latter free of obstructions and adapted, upon the pressure in the header attaining a predetermined high, to withdraw from the nozzle to permit flow of water therefrom, and means to limit the forward movement of thecleaning rod.

.6. In a rinser of the character-described, a header adapted to carry water under pressure, a plurality of nozzles mounted in spaced relation on one side of the exterior of the header, to deliver the water from the header to the article-to .be rinsed, a cylinder mounted opposite each nozzle in alinement in the opposite side of the header from the nozzle, a pressure responsive cleaning rod mounted in each of said cylinders and adapted, upon a predetermined drop in water pressure in the header, to enter thenozzle to maintain the latter free of obstructions and adapted, ,upon the pressure in the header attaining a predetermined high, to withdraw from the nozzle to permitlfiow of water therefrom, and means to limit the movement of the cleaning rod in both directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,564,963 Kirgan Dec. 8, 1925 1,910,025 ILewis May 23, 1933 2,594,045 Loepsinger Apr. 22, 1952 2,614,885 Roell et al Oct. 21, 1952 OREIGN PATENTS 654,97-9 ,Erance Dec. 7, 1928 

